There’s nothing more amusing than walking into a powder room that’s decorated in quirky style. Case in point: a friend’s powder room that was wallpapered in vintage covers from The New Yorker, a loo at a stable in Creemore, Ontario that was wallpapered in the back page from the UK’s Horse & Hound magazine (the back page consists of outrageous falls and near-falls from horseback throughout history). The powder room also gives a homeowner an opportunity to pull out all the stops and decorate in a way that they may not in a larger setting. For example, if you love hot pink, it would make more sense to paint a tiny powder room in that brilliant hue (try it in high gloss) than to paint your living room walls that colour! On my Hampton Island visit in Georgia last month, I was delighted to come across a powder room that was having fun with trompe l’oeil. Wallpapered in a stunning fabric printed with reams of porcelain plates “hung” on the wall, the effect was quite intense. The fabric was a rich amber and the plates were black and white chinoiserie. The overall look was quite fun. 
As intrigued as I was by the initial appeal of the room, imagine my surprise when I realized that they’d actually attached REAL plates to the wall - on top of the fabric pattern! What a fun idea. 
At any rate, a great idea for a powder room that I would definitely suggest stealing from the stylish team at Hampton Island!
It’s hard to imagine that there once was a time when all outdoor fabric had the thick, scratchy feel of cheap car upholstery. Worse, the only colours it was available in was forest green and the three primary colours. Now, the colour world is your oyster when it comes to finding spectacular outdoor fabrics. As everyone continues to nest at home, they are taking their living rooms and moving them outdoors. I’ve been doing a ton of research into outdoor fabrics for Canadian Gardening magazine’s 2010 season (I also edit Canadian Gardening) and have come up with some fantastic new names in the world of outdoor fabrics. If you’re thinking about doing a little outdoor decorating, there are some great inspirational websites to look at. One of my new favourites is a British designer (who is soon to be repped by Y&Co in Toronto) named Christopher Farr. His outdoor fabrics are elegant with a touch of whimsy. My absolute favourite fabric is called 36 24 36 (guess why?) and shows the silhouettes of curvy stair spindles. Very cool! I love it in orange - very fresh and fun.
36 24 36 in orange from Christopher Farr
Another site that I think is fantastic for graphic patterns for the outdoors is called Hable Constuction - neat products for indoors and out! And they are now retailing their great patterns as outdoor fabrics (also repped by Y & Co). Finally, Sunbrella is doing some really beautiful products in gorgeous shades. There’s even a dark charcoal that is incredibly chic. Sunbrella is a terrific brand, and the fabric feels terrific to the touch.
If you’re looking for inspiration about pulling together a palette, we did a story in Canadian Gardening’s May 2010 issue that was produced by Style at Home design editor Ann Marie Favot. Her focus was on two trendy looks: nautical and tropical. It’s worth taking a look at her story - in fact, here’s a sneak peek! 
How long does it take to decorate a house? One month? One year? Try one day! I’m sitting in the show office at the Style at Home show, set to open on Friday October 17th at the Direct Energy Centre in downtown Toronto. Outside the office, there’s a flurry of activity as people are madly trying to get their booths together.
The Canadian Home & Country booth, which we’ve christened “Make it Country,” is under construction. At 11 a.m. the walls went up; two hours later and we’re starting to decorate. Over the next 24 hours, the design team of Canadian Home & Country will be creating an “instant” room.
The design team is mobilized and ready to go. Our deadline is 7 p.m. Thursday October 16th, when one of our favourite photographers, Donna Griffith, will be coming to shoot the booth. I promise to take behind-the-scenes photos to share! Until next time…
